Wildfires force sales of younger cattle

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Cattle ranchers across Oklahoma are selling their cattle at younger ages because they're losing their feed to drought and wildfires.<br/><br/>More than 10,000 head of cattle was

Tuesday, January 17th 2006, 9:37 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Cattle ranchers across Oklahoma are selling their cattle at younger ages because they're losing their feed to drought and wildfires.

More than 10,000 head of cattle was taken to the Oklahoma National Stockyards as of yesterday. More than 18,000 head were sold last week.

Scott Dewald with the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association says ranchers are selling the livestock now because it's become so expensive to feed them. The drought has left wheat fields dry and wildfires have burned much of the grass that was available.

Stockyards president Rob Fisher says despite the cattle being younger and smaller, there has been no trouble selling them and prices have been above $1.50 a pound.